Priority 1: Public Health Modernization

Budget Request: $25 Million
(OHA POP 410)

Ten years after Oregon prioritized public health modernization, lawmakers have committed only about one-third of the money needed to fully fund foundational public health programs. Other states have made significantly larger investments in public health programs. In neighboring Washington, lawmakers have allocated three-quarters of their promised funding. Meanwhile, in Republican-led Indiana, public health funding is double what Oregon lawmakers have committed. This lack of funding means that public health workers don’t have the money needed to prevent communicable diseases like syphilis, hepatitis C and tuberculosis. This budget request would provide $25 million additional per biennium to help public health departments and tribes hire more staff to prevent, track and treat communicable diseases. It would also increase outreach to BIPOC and houseless communities who are at higher risk for disease.

Fact Sheet: Preventing communicable diseases with modernization funding

Story: Portland man is now free of tuberculosis thanks to public health